Creamy Chicken Marsala – Easy Recipe and cooks in 45 minutes!

Name: Creamy Chicken Marsala
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs chicken thighs; 1/3 cup flour; 3 tablespoons butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 16 oz mushrooms (sliced (bella, button or white)); 1 shallot (medium, finely chopped); 1/4 cup garlic (minced); 1 1/4 cup Marsala wine (dry); 2 teaspoons Brandy; 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream; 2 1/2 teaspoons thyme; 2 1/2 tablespoons parsley; salt and pepper

Creamy Chicken Marsala is made with crispy pan-fried chicken with sautéed mushrooms in a rich and creamy Marsala wine sauce. It is one of the most famous Italian dishes, is easy to make at home and will rival any restaurant.

Chicken Thighs or Breast?

According to EatRight.org, a 3-once chicken breast has about 140 calories and 3 grams of fat, whereas the thigh has about 170 calories and 9 grams of fat.

Why I prefer to cook with chicken thighs…

The breast is healthier; however, I still prefer cooking with chicken thighs.

They are a juicier cut of meat, which makes them taste better. However, this also makes chicken thighs A LOT easier to cook with in recipes. I am always worried about not cooking my chicken enough, and tend to overcook slightly. Chicken breasts get dry very quickly.

I have also found that chicken thighs absorb more flavor, making them a better compliment in most meals!

Most Chicken Marsala recipes call for chicken fillets, or cutlets. Chicken cutlets or fillets are just a chicken breast that has been cut in half and pounded to an even thinness. I have cooked Chicken Marsala with cutlets, but find it saves time, and it is easier to cook with chicken thighs.

Do you prefer chicken thighs or breasts? I would love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below.

What to serve with your Chicken Marsala

There are a lot of options that you can serve with Creamy Chicken Marsala; the most common is pasta! Traditionally, Angel Hair pasta is served with Chicken Marsala. However, we have also served it with egg noodles and spaghetti as well.

If you are looking to healthy things up a bit, I would recommend trying:

Cauliflower rice
Zucchini Noodles
Mashed Potatoes

Substitute for Marsala Wine

Marsala wine is an Italian wine from Sicily. It and comes in sweet or dry, to make Creamy Chicken Marsala you will want to ensure you have the dry Marsala Wine. It is usually clearly marked on the label if it is dry or sweet. If you want to learn more about Marsala wine Wine Folly has a great article all about it!

If you cannot find Marsala wine or do not have it on hand, there are some options to substitute. However, keep in mind that Marsala wine does have a distinct flavor, so substitutes will change the taste of the dish.

Madeira Wine
Sherry
2-parts White Wine/ 1-part brandy

Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Marsala:

Chicken thighs
Flour
Pepper
Salt
Butter
Olive Oil
Mushrooms
Shallots
Garlic
Chicken Broth
Thyme
Parsley
Heavy whipping cream
Dry Marsala Wine
Brandy

Let's Get Cooking! Creamy Chicken Marsala!

To begin cooking Creamy Chicken Marsala, take a large skillet over medium-high heat and begin melting the butter.

While the butter it melting, combine the flour, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper in a shallow container. Take the raw chicken and coat it in the flour mixture. Once it is coated place in the frying pan.

Let the chicken cook until browned on the one side.

Once the one side of the chicken is browned, you will flip the chicken and brown the other side.

Once both sides are browned you will remove the chicken and place on a separate plate. The chicken will not be cooked all of the way.

In the same pan add the some olive oil, garlic and shallots. Reduce heat to medium.

When the garlic and shallots have started to brown you will add the diced mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms until they start to get soft. Once the mushrooms are soft you will add the remaining thyme and parsley. Stir all ingredients together.

Next, you will want to add broth, wine, brandy and heavy whipping cream. Mix together and bring to a simmer. When the sauce is simmering you will add the chicken back in to finish cooking.

Cook for about fifteen minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Serve with your choice of base! Enjoy.

Looking for more recipes? Check out some of our other Italian recipes.